Louis Carlet
Encyclopedia
Louis Carlet is the executive president of Zenkoku Ippan Tokyo General Union ("Tozen")
, a union
representing both Japanese and migrant worker
s, including foreign language teachers, bank and newspaper workers. Carlet is from the United States
and moved to Japan in the early 1990s, originally working as a translator for a Japanese newspaper and subsequently leaving that position to become a full-time trade union organizer. He has acted as an adviser to English instructors and others with work-related problems through the Japan Times - the country's leading English-language daily newspaper
In 2005, Carlet organized the "March in March" to raise awareness for job security and inequality of foreign workers in Japan. Zentoitsu's Ippei Torii had begun "foreigner spring labor offensive" in the mid-1990s, which included demonstrations and marches. Building on that tradition, Carlet spearheaded and organized a "Job Security March" in Shibuya in 2005. The march called for job security and equality for foreigners. The following year, 2006, he changed the name to "March in March." The new branding helped raise the profile of the protest march, which became known for music, performances, enormous "mushiro-bata" tatami mat signs, and a festive parade atmosphere. He was successful in gaining media coverage. The march has taken place the second Sunday each March since 2006 but was cancelled in 2010 and 2011 due to heavy rain and the Great East Japan Earthquake respectively.
Carlet was interviewed by DemocracyNow! about the Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11, 2011. In that interview he falsely claimed Tozen was the "largest multinational union in Japan."
In 2010, he left the employ of Tokyo Nambu, simultaneous with the defection of a majority of the foreign local unions to join newly founded Zenkoku Ippan Tokyo General Union. This new union, nicknamed Tozen, is registered with the Tokyo Labor Commission as well as with the Justice Bureau. It has grown since founding from six to ten local unions.
Tozen
' is a Japanese labor union. Known as the Tokyo General Union, or , was formed in 2010, and is one of few foreign-led multiethnic unions in Japan...
, a union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
representing both Japanese and migrant worker
Migrant worker
The term migrant worker has different official meanings and connotations in different parts of the world. The United Nations' definition is broad, including any people working outside of their home country...
s, including foreign language teachers, bank and newspaper workers. Carlet is from the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and moved to Japan in the early 1990s, originally working as a translator for a Japanese newspaper and subsequently leaving that position to become a full-time trade union organizer. He has acted as an adviser to English instructors and others with work-related problems through the Japan Times - the country's leading English-language daily newspaper
In 2005, Carlet organized the "March in March" to raise awareness for job security and inequality of foreign workers in Japan. Zentoitsu's Ippei Torii had begun "foreigner spring labor offensive" in the mid-1990s, which included demonstrations and marches. Building on that tradition, Carlet spearheaded and organized a "Job Security March" in Shibuya in 2005. The march called for job security and equality for foreigners. The following year, 2006, he changed the name to "March in March." The new branding helped raise the profile of the protest march, which became known for music, performances, enormous "mushiro-bata" tatami mat signs, and a festive parade atmosphere. He was successful in gaining media coverage. The march has taken place the second Sunday each March since 2006 but was cancelled in 2010 and 2011 due to heavy rain and the Great East Japan Earthquake respectively.
Carlet was interviewed by DemocracyNow! about the Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11, 2011. In that interview he falsely claimed Tozen was the "largest multinational union in Japan."
In 2010, he left the employ of Tokyo Nambu, simultaneous with the defection of a majority of the foreign local unions to join newly founded Zenkoku Ippan Tokyo General Union. This new union, nicknamed Tozen, is registered with the Tokyo Labor Commission as well as with the Justice Bureau. It has grown since founding from six to ten local unions.